Cucurbita foetidissima is a tuberous xerophytic plant found in the central and southwestern United States and northern Mexico.

The type specimen was collected from Mexico by Alexander von Humboldt and Aimé Bonpland sometime before 1817.

[5] The carbohydrates that are formed in the tap root have led to the idea of growing the plant for biofuel.

[5][10] This perennial is well adapted to marginal agricultural lands such as sandy loam soils which have to be well-drained.

The flowers are borne singly at the nodes of the vines after a certain amount of annual vegetative growth has taken place.

A four-year-old root grown under cultivation can reach a fresh weight of 45 kg (99 lb) and a length of 2.5 m (8.2 ft).

[19] Whole buffalo gourd seeds contain approximately 31% crude protein, which is usable for human consumption and for feed.

The Zuni people use a medicinal poultice of powdered seeds, flowers and saliva for swellings.

[22][23] Besides food, the protein can be used for industrial purposes (water paints, paper coating, adhesives and textile sizing).

External structures appear to prevent damage by most insects and the plant is highly resistant to cucumber beetle and squash bug.